Photo courtesy of Pattaya Mail

 

By Puntid Tantivangphaisal

 

A ride-hailing driver in Pattaya was left bruised and battered after a group of drunken tourists attacked him for refusing to engage in conversation.

 

The shocking incident took place around 3am on Wednesday, January 29 in Soi Buakhao, South Pattaya, when 29 year old Suradet Khawlamai picked up five passengers from the Marina Pattaya South area.

 

The group included two foreign men, one Thai man, and two Thai women—with the foreign men appearing highly intoxicated.

 

Suradet, who drives for Bolt, remained silent as the passengers chatted among themselves. But things took a turn when the foreigners demanded he talk to them. When he didn’t respond, they accused him of being impolite and threatened to report him to the app.

 

The situation escalated quickly, with the passengers hurling insults and belittling his profession.

 

 

“People like you can only do a job like this,” one of them sneered.

 

Suradet, unable to hold back his frustration, snapped back with harsh language—which only enraged the group further.

 

The verbal altercation turned physical, with the tourists allegedly attacking Suradet inside his car and damaging his Toyota sedan. Suradet later said he was confused and angered by the attack, questioning why he was assaulted simply for keeping quiet. He urged the police to take serious action against the assailants.

 

Officers from Pattaya City Police Station launched an investigation and summoned the tourists for questioning. The suspects admitted to the assault, blaming Suradet’s use of offensive language for their reaction.

 

Police have scheduled a mediation session today to resolve the dispute, but many online are calling for harsher action against the violent tourists, reported Pattaya Mail.

 

Source: The Thaiger

-- 2025-01-31

 

 

Another fine example of society off the hinges since the Corvid days.

Probably Brits.

There ,i got it in first.

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Officers from Pattaya City Police Station launched an investigation and summoned the tourists for questioning. The suspects admitted to the assault, blaming Suradet’s use of offensive language for their reaction.

Deport them... end of.

Fine the Thai's

5 passengers plus the driver that must have been cosy.

Did he think he was a baht bus ?

1 hour ago, Kinok Farang said:

Probably Brits.

There ,i got it in first.

Doubt they would speak enough Thai to belittle and berate the driver

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

but many online are calling for harsher action against the violent tourists

I will stand by their side.

 

2 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Doubt they would speak enough Thai to belittle and berate the driver

You are apparently unaware that very many taxi drivers in Pattaya speaks basic English, and even more understand but not speak.

So, its not enough to be a good driver and know where you're going.

Now, you have to be a raconteur, as well.  Sheesh.

18 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Suradet, unable to hold back his frustration, snapped back with harsh language—which only enraged the group further.

He didn't exactly stay silent then did he. He could have easily taken the higher ground but chose to aggravate the drunkards further.

TAT's  expectation for  Quality Tourists.

Increasingly becoming Impossible Dream day by day.

 

Deport them.  Zero tolerance. 

I think the driver is in the wrong profession.

 

Driving tourists around requires a bit of familiarity, jocularity, friendliness.

 

I must admit I have felt like whacking one or two in the past, for grudingly taking me to a destination, while cursing the entire way for low funds, or other personal problems!

4 minutes ago, CanadaSam said:

I think the driver is in the wrong profession.

 

Driving tourists around requires a bit of familiarity, jocularity, friendliness.

 

I must admit I have felt like whacking one or two in the past, for grudingly taking me to a destination, while cursing the entire way for low funds, or other personal problems!

 

Maybe for ordinary taxi drivers it makes sense to talk to tell the tourists where to go and pay extra.

 

I like that most of the Bolt drivers don't say anything. Get it the car, confirm it's the correct driver and destination. Relax. Get out. Done.

Everybody who uses a riding app knows where they want to go. And that is the service which the drivers provide. Not more, not less.

And I am pretty sure some drivers talk to nice passengers... 

1 hour ago, OneMoreFarang said:

1 hour ago, CanadaSam said:

I think the driver is in the wrong profession.

 

Driving tourists around requires a bit of familiarity, jocularity, friendliness.

 

I must admit I have felt like whacking one or two in the past, for grudingly taking me to a destination, while cursing the entire way for low funds, or other personal problems!

 

Maybe for ordinary taxi drivers it makes sense to talk to tell the tourists where to go and pay extra.

 

I like that most of the Bolt drivers don't say anything. Get it the car, confirm it's the correct driver and destination. Relax. Get out. Done.

Everybody who uses a riding app knows where they want to go. And that is the service which the drivers provide. Not more, not less.

And I am pretty sure some drivers talk to nice passengers... 

@CanadaSam It takes a good driver to sense what sort of interaction is appropriate. It's a fine line - sometimes I've been in a taxi and chatted with the driver the whole trip; sometimes, if I'm tired and the driver talks, I give a monosyllabic reply whilst thinking "I do wish he'd shut up" and nodding politely.

 

@OneMoreFarang  I think you've got it but if both sides feel like chatting, then good...if not so be it. One can glean some useful information from taxi drivers if the personalities "click"

49 minutes ago, VBF said:

@CanadaSam It takes a good driver to sense what sort of interaction is appropriate. It's a fine line - sometimes I've been in a taxi and chatted with the driver the whole trip; sometimes, if I'm tired and the driver talks, I give a monosyllabic reply whilst thinking "I do wish he'd shut up" and nodding politely.

 

@OneMoreFarang  I think you've got it but if both sides feel like chatting, then good...if not so be it. One can glean some useful information from taxi drivers if the personalities "click"

 

100% agree....   I had a 'bit of a tit' of a driver last night when going out, so I didn't speak to him other than to give directions. 

 

However, on the way home, while also quite pished up I had a good chat with the bolt driver...  turns out his day job is a photographer and he had some pretty expensive equipment (Sony Alpha series and lenses).. he also had some decent drones, once we'd got my house we carried on chatting for a short time while he showed me some of his drone footage on his YouTube channel...  

 

A lot of the Bolt and Grab drivers are very decent chaps and a world apart from 'taking your chances' with a flag-fall taxi driver who won't use the meter. 

12 hours ago, newnative said:

Deport them.  Zero tolerance. 

 

Then half of Pattaya's population would vanish.

14 hours ago, CanadaSam said:

I think the driver is in the wrong profession.

 

Driving tourists around requires a bit of familiarity, jocularity, friendliness.

 

I must admit I have felt like whacking one or two in the past, for grudingly taking me to a destination, while cursing the entire way for low funds, or other personal problems!

Must admit, I have had several over the years who behaved similarly. And  a few others who couldn't find their way out of a paper bag. Another who asked us to get out  (pay too) in the middle of nowhere after getting himself lost. 

4 hours ago, watchcat said:

 

Then half of Pattaya's population would vanish.

    Nonsense.   Pattaya is a large, diverse, and growing city and, according to Mastercard, the 15th most visited city in the world.  There will be a few bad apples in the millions visiting.  True anywhere.   Incidents like this one are always given headlines here but would not be considered worthy of mention in the west.  

Thailand chooses the types they let in, they want quantity over quality